Associational missions partnership leads to long-term missions connection_41904

Posted: 4/16/04

Associational missions partnership
leads to long-term missions connection

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

BURLESON--Partnerships typically are give-and-take relationships. It is no different for Southwest Metroplex Baptist Association, where volunteers recently took a mission trip to Germany and now the association is giving up one of its pastors.

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Posted: 4/16/04

Associational missions partnership
leads to long-term missions connection

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

BURLESON–Partnerships typically are give-and-take relationships. It is no different for Southwest Metroplex Baptist Association, where volunteers recently took a mission trip to Germany and now the association is giving up one of its pastors.

The pastor, whose name is withheld for security reasons, felt a call to become a missionary following a summer 2003 mission trip through the association's partnership with Evangelische Freikirchliche Gemeinde in Andernach, Germany.

“I felt a real connection with the people there,” he said. “There were language barriers, but I built relationships there I felt were unique and lasting.”

The pastor will continue the work he was doing through the partnership. He will minister to young people in Germany and focus on church planting as a Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board missionary.

“I'm excited because I know some of the pastors in the area, and we are hoping to see the partnership expand,” he said.

His commitment to Germany is the latest development to come out of the association's partnership.

In the past several years the association, formerly called Johnson Baptist Association, sent large groups to help run youth camps.

The normally stoic German youth responded enthusiastically to the camps and the Christian message presented, according to Kevin Steger, pastor of First Baptist Church in Burleson and partnerships coordinator for the association.

More than 30 youth made professions of faith in Christ during the initial camp in 2000. Twenty-seven more became Christians in 2003. The association is planning another camp this summer.

Several smaller groups have taken trips for short-term projects since then.

The partnership initially was facilitated in 2000 by the Texas Partnerships Resource Center of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

The work in Germany opened Texan eyes to new opportunities, Steger said. The pastor of the German church told associational volunteers about the congregation's work in Serbia.

Soon after, the Texas association was partnering with the Serbian church.

German students also have traveled to work in Texas Baptist churches. The students help congregations see ministry from a different perspective, Steger said.

They helped churches develop drama ministries while studying the way Texans do ministry.

“I have never grown in my faith like I have since I've been involved in this,” Steger said.

The missions venture has expanded the scope of the association's ministry, said Milton Ertelt, director of missions for the association. Volunteers are returning from trips more energized and equipped to do local ministry.

“I just wanted our people to be involved in missions to expand their horizons,” he said.

For more information about partnerships, contact the Texas Partnerships Resource Center at (214) 828-5182.

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